Horse Hay | Horsepower Magazine Nov/dec 2009

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Nov/Dec 2009 www.horsepower-magazine.com

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Horse Hay By Peggy M. Auwerda, Ph.D. ~ Iowa State University

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Know how much hay your horse will eat per year? The average horse weighs 1100 lbs and eats 2% of their body weight per day. This calculates out to be 22 lbs/day. If a horse is only consuming hay you would need 22m lbs/day a g a xz365 i ndays/yr. e = 8030 lb/yr or 4 tons hay. If your bales of hay weigh 50 lbs then you would need 8030 lb/yr ÷ 50 lb/bale = 160 bales/yr.

HORSEpower Purchase hay from the field and store it for the year.

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Understand large round and square bales. A large round bale weighs between 500-1200 lbs which is equivalent to 10-24 small 50-lb square bales. This would feed one horse for 2050 days. A medium size rectangular bale weighs 800-1200 lbs which is equivalent to 16-24 small 50-lb square bales. This would feed one horse 36-54 days. A large rectangular bale weighs 1500-2500 lbs which is equivalent to 30-50 m aThis g a z i n e one small 50-lb square bales. would feed horse 60-100 days. With the wet weather always check the bale you are feeding because some will mold and this can cause dangerous consequences in a horse.

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Losses from different feeding methods. Table 1 shows losses when feeding hay on the ground versus feeding in a feeder. Purchasing a hay feeder can easily be recouped when considering the losses. Table 1. Hay Loss Unprotected round bales fed free choice on the ground

25%

Protected round bales fed in a feeder Square bales fed on the ground Square bales fed in a feeder

5% 25% 5%

Store the hay properly • Animal proof the area • Feed older bales first • Place the bottom row of square bales off the ground on pallets • Stack square bales where circulation can enter. This involves alternating the orientation of bales so successive layers are at right angles with the stacks above and below. • Water proof roof • Store round bales end to end and store on a well drained site Table on next page.

HORSEpower m a g a z i n e

Nov/Dec 2009 www.horsepower-magazine.com

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If you can not find hay or need a substitute for all or part of the hay, Table 2 lists feedstuffs you can use.

HORSEpower Table 2. FORAGE SUBSTITUTES

FeeD

Can be fed as the sole part of the diet?

Hay Cubes

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Yes

ADvAnTAgeS

DISADvAnTAgeS

noTeS

• Can be fed as the complete diet • Both grass and alfalfa cube are available a z i n quality e •gConsistent • Reduced dust.

• Normally more expensive than hay • Some horses may chew on wood more • May need to soak for some animals depending on their teeth

• Usually sold in 55 lb. bags • Maintenance Horse: 17-18 lb/day

• Maintains quality of forage • High in energy and protein • Low dust

• Ensiled bags are heavier than hay • Danger of botulism

• Good source of fiber • Fairly high in Ca.

• Moderate protein (8%) • Low vitamin content • Must be soaked before being fed, thus is labor intensive • If not adequately soaked, animal can choke • Will spoil if left soaking too long in warm weather

• Up to 10 lb. (dry wt) can be fed per horse. Supplement with a balanced vitamin/ mineral supplement • Some beet pulp is pelleted with molasses

• Good source of fat of fiber

• High phosphoruss

• Commercial products generally add Ca to balance P

• Good source of fiber • High in protein (16%)

• Extremely high in • Limit to no more than phosphorous 1 lb. per adult horse • Feeding excessive amounts per day may cause debilitating Ca:P imbalances

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Haylage

Yes

HORSEpower Beet Pulp

No

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HORSEpower Rice Bran

No

Wheat Bran

No

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HORSEpower By-products from grain harvest

No

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• Depending upon the product, it may be quite palatable • Provides extra fiber • Good when used with a complete feed

• Does not have enough protein and energy to meet the needs of a mature equine

• Examples – oat straw, wheat straw, soybean hulls, corn stalks

• High fiber • May satisfy a horse’s chew gdesire a z to i n e

• Contains very little nutritional value

• Straw should only be used as a chew factor

• Available in pelleted, textured and extruded forms • Easily obtainable • Consistent quality • Palatable • Ease of handling

• More expensive than hay • May result in more wood chewing • Feeding horses without other roughage may increase risk of colic and/or laminitis

• 12-15 lbs are needed per day to meet the average horse (1000 lb) requirements

HORSEpower Straw

No

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Complete feed with crude fiber (CF) > 15%. Horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome should be fed ration where CF > 20% Resistance

Yes